By R.L. Bynum
Suffering through a prolonged shooting slump, Reggie Bullock still couldn’t find the shooting stroke through three quarters on Tuesday night.
Suddenly in the fourth quarter, it all came together for Bullock in the Dallas Mavericks’ 117–112 home victory over the Los Angeles Clippers after his status was uncertain entering the game because of a neck strain.
Bullock scored 13 points and four 3-pointers, both season-highs and all in the final quarter, for a season-high 9.4 game score. He scored two consecutive 25-foot 3-pointers, the first with 2:02 left broke a tie and the second with 1:31 remaining gave the Mavericks the lead for good.
“They keep leaving me open, but I just had to come into this game with the same confidence,” Bullock said. “All my teammates believe in me to keep shooting the ball. I’ve been struggling a little bit to start the season, but I believe I’m one of the best shooters in the league, so I’ve just got to keep shooting and believe in my reps.”
In the previous four games, he scored a total of eight points, including two scoreless games. He had two points in Dallas’ 117–112 home win over Portland and was scoreless until the fourth quarter on Tuesday.
It was his first double-figure scoring game since he scored 10 at Phoenix on opening night. Before going 4 of 5, all 3-point attempts, in the fourth quarter against the Clippers, he had made five of his previous 31 shots.
Bullock said the key down the stretch was defense, which has always been one of his strengths.
“We’re just trying to run them off the line, play team defense and load up,” Bullock said. “So, that’s what we did coming down the stretch. And we just shared the ball.”
For the 10th time in 11 games, Theo Pinson didn’t play (coach’s decision). He’s played 10 seconds over that span.
Dallas has won two consecutive games and is fifth in the Western Conference at 8–5.
Nassir Little had four points in 15 minutes in Portland’s Saturday loss to Dallas.
Harrison Barnes has played consistently of late for the Sacramento Kings, who beat the Brooklyn Nets 153–121 at home Tuesday night for their fourth consecutive game to go over .500 at 7–6.
Barnes, who had 13 points and eight rebounds in Friday’s 120–114 road win over the Los Angeles Lakers and nine points and three assists in Sunday’s 122–115 home win over Golden State, collected 16 points, four rebounds and three assists in the win over the Nets for a 15.5 game score.
After scoring only four points in the Nets’ 110–95 Saturday road win over the Los Angeles Clippers and going scoreless in Sunday’s 116–103 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Day’Ron Sharpe had seven points, his first 3-pointer of the season, three rebounds and three assists against the Kings. That gave him a season-high game score of 8.3.
Walker Kessler scored eight points Tuesday night in the Utah Jazz’ 118–11 home loss to New York after only scoring two in both Saturday’s 121–112 win at Washington and Sunday’s 105–98 defeat at Philadelphia.
Chicago’s 126–103 Sunday home loss to Denver was the seventh consecutive game Coby White has missed with a left quadricep contusion and has already been ruled out for tonight’s game at New Orleans. Tony Bradley scored two points in three minutes.
Cole Anthony has missed nine consecutive Orlando games with a right internal oblique tear. He has already been ruled out for Wednesday’s home game against Minnesota.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
114–97 Friday win vs. Phoenix and 112–105 Monday loss vs. Charlotte — Missed both; has missed nine consecutive games with a right internal oblique tear
Season statistics — 4 games, 15.5 points, 41.5 FG%, 35.0 3P%, 73.4 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 turnovers, 1.0 steal
Next games — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Minnesota; 8 p.m. Friday at Chicago
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
120–114 Friday win at Los Angeles Lakers — Started; 31 minutes, 13 points, 3–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 6–6 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +9, 13.6 game score
122–115 Sunday win vs. Golden State — Started; 27 minutes, 9 points, 4–8 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 foul, +3, 8.4 game score
153–121 Tuesday win vs. Brooklyn — 21 minutes, 16 points, 5–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 4–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 4 fouls, +33, 15.5 game score
Season statistics — 13 games, 11.3 points, 43.0 FG%, 25.0 3FG%, 83.0 FT%, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Next games — 10 p.m. Thursday vs. San Antonio; 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Detroit
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Age 24 | 6–10, 248 | sixth NBA season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
126–103 Sunday loss vs. Denver — 3 minutes, 2 points, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, +1, 2.3 game score
Season statistics — 4 games, 2 points, 0–1 FG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds
Next games — 8 p.m. Wednesday at New Orleans; 8 p.m. Friday vs. Orlando
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward
Age 31 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)
117–112 Saturday win vs. Portland — Started; 17 minutes, 2 points, 1–5 FG, 0–4 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 4 fouls, -5, 0.6 game score
103–101 Tuesday win vs. Los Angeles Clippers — Started; 13 points, 4–8 FG, 4–8 3FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 fouls, +9, 9.4 game score
Season statistics — 13 games, 5.3 points, 31.97 FG%, 32.2 3P%, 57.1 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Next games — 8:30 Wednesday vs. Houston; 8:30 Friday vs. Denver
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Justin Jackson, Boston Celtics forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 220| sixth NBA season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)
131–112 Friday win vs. Denver, 117–108 Saturday win at Detroit and 126–122 Monday win vs. Oklahoma City — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 3 games, 6 points, 2–7 FG, 2–7 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Next games — 7:30 Wednesday at Atlanta, ESPN; 8:30 Friday at New Orleans
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Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
121–112 Saturday win at Washington — 15 minutes, 2 points, 1–2 FG, 4 rebounds, 1 foul, +15, 2.2 game score
105–98 Sunday loss at Philadelphia — 12 minutes, 2 points, 1–5 FG, 0–2 FT, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +13, 2.5 game score
118–111 Tuesday loss vs. New York — 18 minutes, 8 points, 4–4 FG, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -8, 9.7 games score
Season statistics — 13 games, 5.6 points, 69.6 FG%, 50.0 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 1.6 blocks
Next games — 9 p.m. Friday vs. Phoenix; 10 p.m. Saturday at Portland, NBATV
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers small forward
Age 22 | 6–5, 220 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
117–112 Saturday loss at Dallas — 15 minutes, 4 minutes, 2–3 FG, 1 rebound, 1 steal, -5, 4.0 game score
Season statistics — 13 games, 6.6 points, 54.1 FG%, 46.4 3P%, 2.5 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Next games — 10 p.m. Thursday vs. Brooklyn; 10 p.m. Saturday vs. Utah, NBATV
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Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Age 27 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
117–112 Saturday win vs. Portland and 103–101 Tuesday win vs. Los Angeles Clippers — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 2 games, 7 minutes, 2 points, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Next games — 8:30 Tuesday vs. Los Angeles Clippers; 8:30 Wednesday vs Houston
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
110–95 Saturday win at Los Angeles Clippers — 2 minutes, 4 points, 1–1 FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, +2, 4.7 game score
116–103 Sunday loss at Los Angeles Lakers — 4 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 4 rebounds, 1 turnover, +5
153–121 Tuesday loss at Sacramento — 12 minutes, 7 points, 2–4 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, +1, 8.3 game score
Season statistics — 11 games, 2.8 points, 44.0 FG%, 1–2 3P, 3.2 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Next games — 10 p.m. Thursday at Portland; 7 p.m. Sunday vs. Memphis
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 22 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
126–103 Sunday loss vs. Denver — Missed seventh consecutive game with a left quadricep contusion
Season statistics — 7 games, 8.1 points, 38.2 FG%, 29.4 3P%, 1.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Next games — 8 p.m. Wednesday at New Orleans; 8 p.m. Friday vs. Orlando
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Out while recovering from surgery
— Phoenix forward Cameron Johnson is expected to return in early December or as late as early January after having right knee surgery on Nov. 8. His season statistics: 8 games, 13.0 points, 44.6 FG%, 43.1 3P%, 72.7 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists
— Memphis forward Danny Green will miss most of the season after surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee suffered in May.
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Get an explanation of the game score metric here.
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